I broke my X5 - please don't be tranny.

[E70Noob]

Hello.

Well, this morning I broke something on my X5. A couple blocks from my work I missed my turn and had to pull a u-turn. With the wheels cut left to full lock, I got a bang from what seemed like the front pass side suspension followed immediately by grinding and a thumping that matched the wheels rotation. Initially I though it might be coming from the wheel. I hopped out to take a look but in the rain and fact I was in a suit (couldn't really down down to look under it) I could see anything that looks like an obvious cause. I was going to limp it to my work but it was making a pretty bad grinding sound so I pulled it over. When I put it in reverse to back into a spot side of the road, it felt like something was getting bound up then releasing and binding again. I parked it and walked the rest of the way. There definitely was a smell that smelled to me like tranny fluid but I didn't see any noticeable oil on the road.

I'm going to go back up with a jack after work and have a look underneath. As you can imagine I'm dying here trying to guess what it may be. Thought I'd post in case any of you had and ideas...

Thanks in advance,

Cedric

[Crowz]

Usually on an awd vehicle or front wheel drive for that matter a loud bang with wheels turned sharp means you broke a cv joint at the wheel. You should be able to grab either of the front axles and feel one of them give. Any movement means something is wrong with it.

It of course could be several other things but that's the first thing to check.

[E70Noob]

Fingers crossed its something simple like that. It would match the symptoms I'm experiencing.

Thank you.

[smassey321]

Things that are under load during turning include the CV joints or spider gears in the front dif. Or it could be a transfer case issue that overloaded something else. Have you had any tire chirping while doing U turns?

[E70Noob]

No tire chirping with the wheels cut. I'm assuming that would have indicated an issue in the diff?

A few additional things to mention... the past month or so I've been getting a vibration and some (tire sounding) noise from what felt like the right rear of the vehicle. I suspected rear inner CV as it is most noticeable under load, especially when climbing hills. No knocking with the wheels cut. I ruled out wheel bearing as the swerve test didn't seem to affect the sound/vibrations. I did read about low fluid in the diff and/or transfer case being a possible culprit. Coincidentally last time I had the truck in the shop, my indy strongly recommended I replace the transfer case oil saying he didn't think it had ever been done. I was going attempt to do both the transfer case and diff oil myself, but hadn't gotten around to it yet.

After this morning's surprise, the grinding did sound like it was coming from the front left wheel, almost like something was dragging against the rotor. The thumping, when present sound almost like my tire came apart and was hitting the inner fender well. I think both of these symptoms would be fitting of a broken CV...

The sun has come out here so after work I'm going to go back up to my truck with a jack and some tools and pull the wheel off and see if I can find anything out of the norm going on back there paying special attention to the axle(s).

I hope like hell it isn't a diff or transfer case issue.

[ard]

Front driveshaft?

[E70Noob]

Also possible...

[ard]

Yeah, you can do a quick search and see a good many broken driveshaft pictures.

Any particular drivetrain/motor in that there X5 of yours?


https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...ft-recall.html

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...iscussion.html

http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=995198

[smassey321]

Originally Posted by E70Noob

No tire chirping with the wheels cut. I'm assuming that would have indicated an issue in the diff?

.

Tire chirping would be an issue with the center dif/transfer case. The TC is sensitive to fluid age/quality. When changed, the fluid age timer gets reset and the adaptions reset so it knows how to adjust itself. At each start up, the clutch resistance is adjusted.

[E70Noob]

The rear diff is blown. Pics and video to come.

Now do I buy a used diff and attempt the swap on my own? I haven't found a E70 tutorial but it doesn't look like it would be that bad of a job...

Cedric